Monday, March 31, 2014

Red Lentil Soup

2 cups red lentils (rinsed)

2 onions, chopped
4 T tomato paste
2 med potatoes, sliced or shredded w/peeler
2 carrots, shredded w/peeler
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
water

Steps:

1. Bring 2 cups of red lentils to boil in water in medium pot. Boil until soft. There's usually some water still left in there. That's fine. Set aside
2. In LARGE pot, brown your chopped onions. (I use pre-chopped, frozen onions, and like to brown them very dark in a smidge of olive oil)
3. Add 4 T tomato paste to onions and cook a few minutes
4. Add 6 tall glasses of water to the paste and onions and bring to a boil.
5. Shred your potatoes and carrots w/ a potato peeler. Add to the water mixture and boil 5 min.
6. Drain your lentils
7. Add your lentils and 1/2 cup of rice to the boiling water.
8. Boil additional 15-20 min
9. Enjoy w/ generous dashes of salt and pepper and fresh lemon juice on top

This is a good weeknight dinner, b/c it's easy to keep these ingredients on hand.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Trish's Creamy Super Chocolatey Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

11 c. (32 oz. box) powdered milk
1 c. powdered sugar
11+ oz. powdered coffee creamer (french vanilla)
2 lbs. Nestle nesquick powdered chocolate milk mix
4 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 box instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
mini marshmallows (optional)

Whisk together all ingredients and store in an airtight container.

To mix: use 1 part mix to 2 parts water

Monday, March 3, 2014

Trish's Favorite Easy Homemade Brownies

4 squares Baker's unsweetened baking chocolate (100% cacao, all natural bar)
¾ c. butter
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour

Preheat oven to 350.  Melt chocolate and butter together in large microwave safe bowl, stirring until blended.  Stir together the remaining ingredients in the same bowl to save dishes.  Pour into 9x13 inch pan.  Bake for 35 minutes.  Ta-da!  If doubled it fits perfectly into a large sheet pan.